Asia Pacific Currents

Over the last two decades, the Indian economy has fully integrated intp the global capitalist economy. This has led to the growth of huge industrial zones where companies seek to take advantage of low wages and favourable laws.One of these areas in the Gurgaon region in Haryana state just to the north of the capital New Delhi. Automotive factories are one of the sectors that have established in this sector. There have been many huge labour actions and strikes in the last decade, for example the Maruti-Suzuki struggle that began in 2011, as workers protest against low wages, unsafe working conditions, and precarious employment contracts.This week, we spoke to Shivani Kaul, Political Activist with Bigul Mazdoor Dasta and Legal Advisor, Automobile Industry Contract Workers Union, about the strike that began earlier this month by thousands of contract workers employed at the Honda Automotive factory in Gurgaon.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia

On October 31st, police and military personnel arrested 61 labour and human rights activists belonging to Bayan Muna, Gabriela, Kadamay, and the National Federation of Sugar Workers in a series of co-ordinated operations across the Philippines. While they have all been released, many have been put under heavy bail conditions, including raising substantial amount of money.Even more worrying, many of these activists have been 'Red Tagged' by the military as communists. Under President Duterte's murderous 'War on Drugs' campaign over the last three years, more than 25,000 working class people have been killed in extra judicial killings. The result of this reign of terror is that there are numerous militias and death squads organised throughout the Philippines that are acting with impunity. Many labour activists have been shot and killed after being publicly 'Red Tagged'.APC interviewed May Kotsakis, co Chairperson of PASA (Philippine Australia Solidarity Association) and the finance Officer of ILPS (International League of People's Struggle), on the significance of these latest arrests in the Philippines.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia

Repression against journalists, researchers and writers unfortunately occurs around the world as governments and organisations try to suppress information from being publicised.Julian Assange, the founder of the investigative social media organisation Wikileaks, became world famous in 2010 when he disseminated a whole raft of secret documents that exposed US military war crimes and operations. In response, the USA government initiated a campaign to arrest and silence him. Assange is now in a UK jail fighting extradition to the USA.We talk to Jacob Grech, long time anti military activist and AAWL co-ordinator of its anti military project, on the global fight to support Assange, to bring him back to Australia, and why his fight is a workers and union issue.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia

The strenght of the labour movement in every country goes up and down depending on economic conditions and the level of repression it is facing.While in part of Asia we are seeing huge working class struggles erupting, the labour movement in Australia is still struggling to go on the offensive and regain the ground that it has lost over the last 30 years. We hear a talk by Gwynnyth Evans, Assistant Secretary of the Victorian Australasian Meat Industry Employees' Union (AMIEU), that was delivered at a recent Workers Solidarity Conference on 'Where are we at'?.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia

The Chinese working class movement is probably the largest in the world, it is constrained in its ability to organise and form independent unions. The ongoing mass protests in Hong Kong have focused renewed attention to the situation in China and its labour movement.For this week's program, we play a recorded talk by Kevin Lin, an activist and researcher of China’s labor movement, on the Chinese labour movement and international solidarity. The full recording of the international meeting that Kevin participated in can be found on the page of the Alliance of Middle Eastern and North African Socialists.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region.It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia

The country of Iraq has had a very turbulent history since the USA military invasion of 2003 that overthrew the dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. The invasion led to a series of social and military crisis since then, with armed militias now a feature of the countries political landscape.Working class communities have borne the brunt of this violence. In addition, this instability has fostered a climate of nepotism, sectarianism and corruption that has seen billions of dollars being stolen.Earlier this month, working class communities all over Iraq staged massive protests against this corruption, against widening inequalities, and the widespread poverty and unemployment affecting workers and their families. APC spoke to Moustafa Awad, a human rights campaigner, in regards to these latest protests and their significance.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia

Global mining companies are not only one of the most important and strategic pillars of the capitalist system, but their are also some of the most predatory companies in the world, leaving a trail of social and environmental destruction in their wake.Kevin Bracken, former leader of the Maritime Union of Australia Vic Branch and long time union activist, talks to us about the background and history of the campaign against the Australian company Oceana Gold and the crimes that the company has committed in both El Salvador and the Philippines.A solidarity action will be held in Melbourne, Australia on Monday October 14 in solidarity with the Save Nueva Vizcaya Movement in the Philippines who are at the forefront of the fight against Oceana GoldAsia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia

The increasing tensions between Iran and the USA/Saudi Arabia may have been triggered by events associated with the war in Yemen, but the issues are deeper than that with both historical roots going back to the Iranian revolution of 1979 and political/economic issues associated with the Arab Spring that started in 2010.APC talked with Joseph Daher, a media commentator and academic, on the possibilities of a war breaking out between Saudi Arabia and Iran, and how these tensions are reflected on the ongoing popular struggles that are continuing in the region.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia

It has been a bit over three years since President Duterte was elected as President of the Philippines. President Duterte administration authoritarian and repressive policies have surpassed those of the late Dictator Ferdinand Marcos in terms of people jailed and killed. While not initially targeted, the situation for labour activists has now deteriorated with increasing arrests and murders, with many others fearing for their safety. The lexicon of 'Red Tagging' has now become part of the language where labour activists are identified by military and militias. We talk to Wilson Fortaleza, Executive member of the Partido Manggagawa - Labour Party of the Philippines, about the current situation and what steps labour activists are taking to ensure their safety.Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia

Ever since the infamous Tampa Affair in 2001, Australia asylum seekers and refugee policies has been marked by xenophobia, cruelty and government intransigence. Even thought there has been a mass movement since the Tampa affair against these policies, both major parties continue this hard line stance. The latest victims of this repression has been a Tamil family of four who had been quietly living in the regional Queensland town of Biloela. Priya, Nadesalingam and their children, Kopika, 4, and Tharunicaa, 2, are now imprisoned in the offshore concentration camp of Christmas Island waiting for a last minute appeal that might allow them to remain in Australia.APC talked to FSU union organiser, Tamil Refugee Council spokesperson, and a former refugee himself, Aran Mylvaganam on why this case has generated such a upswell of support for this family. Asia Pacific Currents provides updates of labour struggles and campaigns from the Asia Pacific region. It is produced by Australia Asia Worker Links, in the studio of 3CR Radio in Melbourne, Australia